News and Events from the U.S. Commercial Service in Fargo, North Dakota

 CS Header

World Trade News and Events - September 2016

Newsletter of the U.S. Commercial Service in Fargo, North Dakota

LOCAL NEWS AND EVENTS
Grant Johnson departs, Carter Pedersen joins the U.S. Commercial Service in Fargo
Big Iron Farm Show Draws Large African Delegations  
Surprising US Postal Service Tools to Grow Your Business Internationally - September 28 in Bismarck 
Early Bird Deadline Sept. 28: Export Compliance 201 Training with Mike Allocca, October 11 in West Fargo
- A Few Free Booths Left at the 12th Annual AgriTek/FarmTek Astana exhibition in Kazakhstan
Food Export Essentials 2016: A Full Day of Export Education Topics - October 25 in West Fargo 

NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL NEWS
EXIM Reopens for Business in Argentina 
State Department Relaunches Company Visit Program to Assess ITAR Compliance
CS World Bank Publishes World Bank Group Commercial Guide

WEBINARS
- Trade Mission and Business Development Conference: Opportunities in Costa Rica 

LOCAL NEWS AND EVENTS

gjcp
             Grant Johnson                Carter Pedersen

Grant Johnson departs, Carter Pedersen joins the Commercial Service in Fargo
Grant Johnson, a recent graduate of North Dakota State University, worked for the NDDEC and CS North Dakota office from April 2016 to August 2016 as an Export Assistant. Grant has been accepted into NDSU's MBA Graduate Program and he has taken a graduate assistants position at the NDSU Wellness Center. His sunny disposition, interesting stories and dedication will be missed.

Carter Pedersen, a senior studying Business Administration at North Dakota State University joined the U.S. Commercial Office in Fargo as an Export Assistant. Carter grew up on a Hereford cattle ranch near Cooperstown, ND and enjoys hunting, fishing, golfing, and traveling in his spare time. This past summer he interned in Washington, D.C. in the office of Senator John Hoeven. After graduation, Carter would like to explore career opportunities in global business and international trade. The export assistantship program is supported by the North Dakota District Export Council and the North Dakota Trade Office.

delegation

Big Iron Farm Show Draws Large African Delegations
A group of 56 Angolan and 17 Ethiopian business leaders and officials from the government and U.S. Embassies in Luanda (Angola) and Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) convened in Fargo for the Big Iron Farm Machinery Show International Visitors Program earlier this month to learn about U.S. agricultural equipment and technology. During their week-long stay, delegation members toured the Case tractor manufacturing plant, attended agricultural field demonstrations, met with U.S. equipment companies, took part in field seminars lead by North Dakota State University and area growers of corn, soy, grain, and potatoes. U.S. Commercial Service staff facilitated productive discussions (including in Portuguese) between delegation members and U.S. companies; with a number of them already in advanced negotiations. The Angolan delegation was the largest international delegation this year Big Iron, with 56 in the group. The Big Iron IVP is sponsored by the ND Trade Office and U.S. Commercial Service North Dakota office. WDAY-TV ran a story about the African and Angolan delegations, which you can view here; and AgWeek ran a series of stories about the international delegations, viewable here

Surprising US Postal Service Tools to Expand Your Business Internationally - Sept. 28 in Bismarck 
Join the U.S. Commercial Service and the USPS in Bismarck at this Made in Rural America event!
Location: Chamber of Commerce Bismarck, ND
Date: Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm For more information and to register for this event, please visit www.usps.com/bismarck

A Few Free Booths Remaining at the 12th Annual AgriTek/FarmTek Astana exhibition in Kazakhstan 
The AgriTek/FarmTek exhibition in Astana, Kazakhstan will be held March 15-17, 2017. Last years exhibition featured 173 companies from 21 different countries and occupied 5,802 square meters! Over 4,500 farmers attended the three day event. Please click here for more information about the exhibition and application process.

ma

Early Bird Deadline Sept. 28: Export Compliance 201, Oct. 11 in West Fargo
The early registration date of September 28th is approaching, so if you are considering attending the upcoming export compliance seminar in West Fargo, you can save $50 by registering now. Join us for an export compliance 201 seminar in Fargo presented by Mike Allocca, one of the top national experts on export compliance and documentation. Mike is returning to Fargo by popular demand for a fourth time. This event will cover the topics of:

  1. Understanding the six (6) ways to Export/Import Duty Free
  2. Determining the Country of Origin vs. Marking the Origin
  3. Exporting Samples, Warranties, Repairs & Replacements
  4. Proper Customs Valuation as well as Transfer Pricing with Related Parties
  5. Three (3) Drop Shipment Scenarios with Proper Customs Values & Documents
  6. Learning more about the FCPA--Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
  7. Successor Liability - how this affects you
  8. Best Practices of Successful Companies

Who should attend?  Traffic managers, purchasing managers, sales department, shipping/receiving personnel, compliance officer, financial officer, sales managers, customer service managers and anyone involved /concerned with international shipments.
Cost: $225 per person, if pre-registered by September 28th; $275 to register after that date. This cost includes all reference material, morning pastries and coffee, and lunch. Seating is limited, registration form and payment required to guarantee a seat. (Note: Paying by check means you can save a few dollars on the credit card fee)

Date: Tuesday, October 11, 2016 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location: Cambria Suites & Conference Center 850 East Beaton Dr. West Fargo, ND 58078
Click here to register for this national-level training.

Export Essentials 2016: A full day of exporting education topics
Food Export Midwest speaker Dennis Lynch, and the ND Department of Ag's Charles Elhard will discuss the following topics:

  • Developing Export Readiness Skills & Understanding the Harmonized System
  • Export Shipping and Documentation, including Phytosanitary Requirements
  • Building Export Competence & Confidence
  • Export Pricing, Quoting & Terms of Sale
  • Overview of Food Export - Midwest’s Programs and Services
  • Q&A Session with Dennis Lynch

Location: Red River Valley Fair Grounds-West Fargo, ND
Date: Tuesday, October 25th Time: 8:30am - 4pm (lunch provided by NDTO)
Cost: $50/person Registration
Deadline: Thursday, October 20th
Click here to register

 

NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL NEWS

flag

EXIM Reopens for Business in Argentina
Fred P. Hochberg, chairman and president of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM), today announced in Buenos Aires that the Bank will resume offering short- and medium- term financing in Argentina after being closed to sovereign transactions for more than 15 years. The opening applies to both the private and public sectors of Argentina. As part of the change, the Bank will offer financing terms of up to seven years. Additionally, the Bank will consider supporting structured, longer-term financing. For more information about EXIM, visit www.exim.gov

State Department Relaunches Company Visit Program to Assess ITAR Compliance
The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) within the State Department has relaunched its "Company Visit Program. Per the program, DDTC officials visit your office to review your company's compliance activities under the International Traffic In Arms Regulations (ITAR). Under the program, companies are selected for a visit under DDTC's screening criteria. Visits typically last 1-2 days. Please click here for more information.

CS World Bank Publishes World Bank Group Commercial Guide
The Commercial Service World Bank has published the first ever World Bank Group Commercial Guide. It is an excellent resource for American exporters to learn more about the World Bank and breaks it down in terms and format that American exporters already know and understand. The guide can be found by clicking here.

WEBINARS

Trade Mission and Business Development Conference: Discover Business Opportunities in Costa Rica
Date: 
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Time: 1:00pm-2:15pm 
Cost: $35
This is a great opportunity for your company to learn more about the Trade Americas forum and government programs available to support your international business strategy! For more information please click here.


Your U.S. Commercial Service / North Dakota Office 

hr  Heather Ranck
Office Director and International Trade Specialist
Ph: 701-239-5080
Email: Heather.Ranck@trade.gov  
 bs

Bryan Starner
Export Assistant
Ph: 701-239-5033
Email: Bryan.Starner@trade.gov

 cp Carter Pedersen
Export Assistant
Ph: 701-239-5033
Email: Carter.Pedersen@trade.gov

US Commercial Service | United States Department of Commerce | 811 Second Ave. N | Suite 436 | Fargo | ND | 58102